Meet Adrian Abbs, Independent candidate for Reading West and Mid Berkshire

Adrian Neil Abbs is a father, councillor, businessman and Independent candidate standing for the Reading West and Mid Berkshire constituency.

Aged 63, he works as a managing director of an IT company and has various other business appointments which can be found on the Companies House website.

Claim to the area:  

I’ve lived here since coming back from Germany 30 years ago – First Pingewood (RG30 – East End) then drifted to the West and currently on Thatcham Newbury border. Both children went to school in reading until leaving for University. I have people who work for my company who live in places like Aldermaston. Also, friends across the constituency. As much as anyone can say they know such a large area I do. I am rooted to the constituency.

What are the three biggest challenges facing the people of Reading West & Mid Berkshire?

The challenges change for each socioeconomic group (the constituency covers the whole spectrum) it is also dependent on if you are referring to Reading West or Mid Berkshire.

For many it is simply being able to make ends meet.

Another large cohort of people struggle to get access to services – Be that Dentist, NHS, GP , Social care etc

This spring, sewage and flooding had a massive impact throughout Mid Berkshire but also urban and rural are

both suffering from developer led rather than community led development and associated infrastructure.

What causes will you be championing if elected as an MP?

I shall be there to champion the causes that have the biggest impact for local people. Its why I have been touring all councils and asking them to work with me to identify ward by ward what the MP should be doing for their area. Its why I have committed part of my MP salary for extra staff to deal with the workload in a timely manner.

My vision shows a sustainable future where we deal with energy security/cost, food security/cost, whilst revitalising UK industry and dealing with sewage in a different way that feeds back into food security and energy security. – This video takes you through that vision - https://youtu.be/bHyjvxP4KZ8

Local business is a priority for me. So, when I have been out and about since Jan – I have dropped into every local business I’ve passed, asking them to let me know what their MP should be doing to support their growth. That’s ranged from specialist machine shops, through farmers to the corner shops that still exist across our area. For instance, I can tell you that the biggest issue for Tilehurst village high street is the parking charges being imposed by Reading council. For the specialist machine shop it was the costs to them of apprenticeships.

I’ve will also champion a change in how social care funding is done so that council’s budgets are not blown each year because the social care variable cannot align with the once a year of budget setting.

I will continue to champion the introduction of a label for all goods that allows people buying things to understand the environmental impact of what they are buying  Energy, Transport, Sustainability, Reusability. If a label was all green then it does little harm to the world, if all red take care when buying. The purchasing power of the UK then influences to a far bigger change in what we buy from abroad but without the associated increase in cost

The new location for Royal Berkshire Hospital and how people get there is something I want to be close to. Also looking at extending community hospital facilities so Reading West and Mid Berks has access to what’s needed in an emergency as fast as practical.

Quick fire round:

What car do you drive?

An all electric Porsche Taycan! But actually, day to day commute is an E-bike as its just a few miles to my office from home.

What's your favourite film or TV show?

LA Story with Steve Martin

When was the last time you cried?  

A week ago due to a bereavement.

What's your stance on drug legalisation, and have you ever taken any drugs in your past?

Smoking is legal as is alcohol.

Both will do you harm. With drugs that are already administered for medical reasons then I struggle to see why they are not legal. Given the crime associated with drugs, then legalising, say cannabis, seems to make sense. Remove the crime, tax it, and use the revenue to help those addicted to harsher drugs. I do not do drugs, but I do have a vague memory from about 40 years ago when someone was using a hookah pipe. I smoked occasionally after drink back then and I’m pretty sure that once it was not tobacco in the pipe. So, no I don’t think so, but I can’t be 100% sure.